Running shorts Jan. 12

Three local cross country coaches were honored by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as Cross Country Coach of the Year in their respective states.  They included Anthony Belber (D.C.: Georgetown  Day School boys), Kevin Hughes (D.C.: Georgetown Visitation School girls) and Mike Mangan (Va.: Lake Braddock Secondary boys).

According to USTFCCCA, State-by-state winners were selected based on their teams’ performances throughout the 2014 cross country season. Among the factors taken into consideration were team score and placement at the state championships, margin of victory, performance against rankings if available, individual championships, and how their teams’ performances stacked up to previous years (e.g. first title in school history, consecutive titles, etc.).

National winners will be announced next week.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase senior Nora McUmber has been named the Gatorade Maryland Cross Country Runner of the Year. She won the Maryland 4A state title, the Montgomery County Cross Country Championship and the DCXC Senior race, and finished seventh at the Nike Cross Southeast meet.

Sidwell Friends School junior Taylor Knibb is Gatorage’s D.C. Cross Country Runner of the Year. She was a two-time state champion, winning the D.C. championship and the Maryland/D.C. Private Schools championship in consecutive weeks and was Maryland and D.C.’s highest finisher at the Foot Locker Northeast regional championship, finishing 21st.